Double Impatiens plant named ‘Cameo Pink Surprise’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plant named ‘Cameo Pink Surprise’, characterized by its large pink and white bi-colored flowers; fully double flower form; freely flowering habit with flowers positioned above the foliage; compact, mounded, spreading, densely foliated, and freely branching plant habit; rapid growth rate; and large rounded dark green leaves.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

Impatiens walleriana cultivar Cameo Pink Surprise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of DoubleImpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Cameo Pink Surprise.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Cartago, Costa Rica. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new compact Double Impatiens cultivars with largefully double flowers, excellent branching, and interesting flower andfoliage colors.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross made by the Inventor of aproprietary selection of Impatiens walleriana identified as code number88VAR121A, not patented, as the female, or seed parent, with aproprietary selection of Impatiens walleriana identified as code numberF2 (PK:DB), as the male, or pollen parent. The cultivar Cameo PinkSurprise was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin Cartago, Costa Rica.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atCartago, Costa Rica, has shown that the unique features of this newImpatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Cameo Pink Surprise’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Cameo Pink Surprise’ as anew and distinct cultivar:

1. Large pink and white bi-colored flowers.

2. Fully double flower form.

3. Freely flowering habit.

4. Flowers positioned above the foliage.

5. Compact, mounded and spreading plant habit.

6. Rapid growth rate.

7. Freely branching habit.

8. Large rounded dark green leaves; densely foliated.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Cartago, Costa Rica, plants ofthe new Impatiens differ from plants of the female parent, the selection88VAR121A, in the following characteristics:

1. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens are larger and more roundedthan leaves of plants of the selection 88VAR121A.

2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants of theselection 88VAR121A.

3. Plants of the new Impatiens have fully double flowers whereas plantsof the selection 88VAR121A have single flowers.

4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are sterile whereas flowers ofplants of the selection 88VAR121A are fertile.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Cartago, Costa Rica, plants ofthe new Impatiens differ from plants of the male parent, the selectionF2 (PK:DB), in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact and more mounded thanplants of the selection F2 (PK:DB).

2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants of theselection F2 (PK:DB).

3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are pink and white bi-coloredwhereas flowers of plants of the selection F2 (PK:DB) are solid pink incolor.

4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are sterile whereas flowers ofplants of the selection F2 (PK:DB) are fertile.

The new Impatiens can be compared to the Impatiens walleriana cultivarSparkler Rose, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,603. However, inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Lompoc, Calif., plants of the newImpatiens differ from plants of the cultivar Sparkler Rose in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more mounded and spreading thanplants of the cultivar Sparkler Rose which are more upright in planthabit.

2. Stems of plants of the new Impatiens are red purple in color whereasstems of plants of the cultivar Sparkler Rose are yellow green in color.

3. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants of thecultivar Sparkler Rose.

4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are lighter pink in color thanflowers of plants of the cultivar Sparkler Rose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Impatiens.

The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical hangingbasket container of ‘Cameo Pink Surprise’ with three plants percontainer about 10 weeks after planting rooted cuttings.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Cameo Pink Surprise has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,daylength, water status, and fertilizer types and rate without, however,any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements andcomparisons describe plants grown in Lompoc, Calif., under commercialpractice in a fiberglass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures about21 to 24° C., night temperatures about 16 to 18° C. and light levelsgenerally about 3,000 to 4,000 footcandles. Three rooted cuttings wereplanted in 20-cm hanging basket containers and grown for about 8 to 10weeks.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Cameo PinkSurprise.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens walleriana identifiedas code number 88VAR121A, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens walleriana identified ascode number F2 (PK:DB), not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 10 days at 21° C. Winter: About 12days at 21° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Summer and winter: About 28 days at21° C.

Root description.—Numerous, fibrous, fine and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.—Compact, mounded and spreading. Appropriate for 10to 15-cm pots and 20 and 25-cm hanging basket containers.

Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and freely-branching with at leastten lateral branches at the base, dense and bushy growth. Pinching, thatis, removal of the terminal apices, is typically not required.

Crop time.—Rapid growth rate. From planting one rooted cutting in a10-cm pot: About 5 to 6 weeks. From planting three rooted cuttings in a20-cm hanging basket container: About 8 to 10 weeks.

Plant height.—About 17 cm.

Plant spread.—About 25 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm. Internodelength: About 1 to 2 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146B heavilyoverlain with 183D.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, alternate; broad and rounded,generally symmetrical; abundant, densely foliated. Length: About 3.75cm. Width: About 3.25 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute torounded. Margin: Slightly serrated to dentate. Texture: Smooth,glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Young foliage, uppersurface: 147B. Young foliage, lower surface: 147C with large, mostlycentral, irregular areas of 183D. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface:146A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 146C with large, mostlycentral, irregular areas of 183D. Venation, upper surface: 146B.Venation, lower surface: 146A. Petiole: Length: About 1.35 cm. Diameter:About 2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 183D.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Numerous and consistently double pink and whitebi-colored flowers. Freely and continuously flowering. Flower buds opensimilar to a rose in fullness; flowers rounded. Flowers arise from leafaxils. Usually about 8 to 15 flowers and flower buds per lateral branch.Flowers positioned above the foliage and typically face outward toupward. Flowers last about 7 to 10 days on the plant depending ontemperature and weather conditions. Flowers not persistent. Flowers notfragrant.

Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden,flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 4.5 cm. Depth: About 2 cm.

Flower buds.—Rate of opening: From showing color to fully open flower,about 5 to 7 days is typical depending on temperature. Length: About1.25 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Flower bud color: 145A;with development, 145A blushed with 55B.

Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About 20 to 25 per flower; imbricate.Length, outer petals: About 2.5 cm. Width, outer petals: About 2.5 cm.Shape: Roughly cordate to ovate. Apex: Rounded or emarginate. Base:Acute. Margin: Entire; slightly ruffled. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Towards margin,pink, 68A; towards center, white, 155C. With subsequent development,pink color becomes lighter, 68B. When opening and fully opened, lowersurface: 68B.

Calyx.—Number of sepals: Three, one modified into a spur. Sepal shape:Obovate to cordate. Sepal length: About 1 to 2 cm. Sepal width: About1.2 to 2.5 cm. Sepal color: 145A: towards margins, 55B. Spur: Length:About 3 cm. Color: 146D.

Peduncles.—Length: About 2.75 cm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Angle: About45° to the lateral branch. Strength: Strong. Color: 146B heavilyoverlain with 183D.

Reproductive organs.—None observed.

Seed production.—Not observed.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have demonstrated goodresistance to pathogens common to Impatiens, such as Botrytis.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plantnamed ‘Cameo Pink Surprise’, as illustrated and described.